Hand Garments Facilitating Mobile Device Operation

ABSTRACT

A hand facilitates interaction with a mobile touchscreen device. The hand garment has a base portion that covers the palm and fingers, and a thumb portion that covers a thumb of the wearer&#39;s hand. The thumb portion has a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb. In some examples, the touch area has an aperture that allows the tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion, and a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture. In some examples, the hand garment also has a support mechanism, such as a pocket, a band, or a strap that holds, supports, and/or secures the mobile touchscreen device while a wearer operates the device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/978,827, filed on Apr. 12, 2014 and titled “Hand Garment Facilitating Mobile Device Operation,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology generally relates to hand garments, such as gloves, mittens, or other articles for insulating, protecting, and/or covering the hand. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to thermally insulating hand garments that facilitate wearer operation of mobile touchscreen devices.

BACKGROUND

Touchscreen technology allows a user to operate electronic equipment without the use of mechanical or moving buttons. Many modern mobile devices, including cell phones, tablets, mp3 players, and other computing devices, use touchscreen technology to allow a user to operate and interact with the device.

Touchscreen or touch-operable devices can recognize the “touch” of an electrically conductive object by detecting a change in capacitance at the location of the “touch.” Because the human body is an electrical conductor, touchscreen devices can to detect the physical touch of a user's finger or thumb contacting the touchscreen surface.

Touchscreen devices may be unable to detect a touch, however, if the user is unable to make direct contact with the screen. For example, touchscreen technology may be ineffective if the operator is wearing gloves or other insulating apparel over the hands and/or fingers. This can be a particular problem for users trying to operate a mobile device in cold weather or in other environments that involve the use of gloves or other hand covering apparel.

Moreover, hand garments present other issues that make operation of touchscreen devices more difficult. For example, gloves often have a smooth surface that can make it difficult for a user to properly grip or hold a mobile device. And because mobile device operation often involves frequent adjustment of the fingers, thumb, and hand, it can be challenging to maintain a proper grip while wearing gloves. As a result, mobile devices can slip out of the hands of a glove wearer and damage or even ruin the device.

SUMMARY

A hand garment facilitates interaction with a mobile touchscreen device (e.g., a cell phone, a tablet, an mp3 player, etc.). In one example, the hand garment includes a base portion shaped to cover the palm and fingers of a hand, and a thumb portion shaped to cover a thumb of the hand. In some examples, the thumb portion has an aperture of a size sufficient to allow a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion. The aperture can include a sealing mechanism that can seal the aperture when the thumb is within the thumb portion.

In other examples, the thumb portion has a touch area that to facilitates a wearer's operation of a touchscreen device with the thumb. By one approach, the hand garment also includes a support mechanism positioned along the base portion. The support mechanism can provide support for a mobile touchscreen device, for example, while the wearer operates the mobile touchscreen device.

Certain examples, present a glove that thermally insulates a hand while interaction with a mobile touchscreen device. In some examples, the glove includes a base portion that insulates the palm and fingers of a wearer's hand, and a thumb portion extending from the base portion that insulates the wearer's thumb. By one approach, the thumb portion has an aperture that allows a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion. The aperture can include a sealing mechanism that can seal the aperture when the thumb is within the thumb portion. In some examples, the glove also includes a support mechanism on the base portion that provides support for a mobile touchscreen device as a wearer operates the device.

In operation, the present disclosure facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device while wearing a hand garment. By one approach, the hand garment can support the mobile touchscreen device with a support mechanism that is located on the hand garment. For example, a mobile touchscreen device, such as a smart phone, can be placed in or on a support mechanism on the hand garment so that the wearer can more easily hold and operate the device without threat of dropping the device. In one example, the wearer can emerge a thumb or a tip of a thumb through an aperture located on a thumb portion of the hand garment. In some examples the wearer will be able to secure the thumb portion in a reclined position, for example, by reclining the thumb portion backwards, or to the side. In this manner the wearer will be able to operate the mobile touchscreen device by directly contacting a touchscreen interface of the mobile touchscreen device with the thumb. In some approaches, the wearer will be able to easily re-cover or re-insert the thumb within the thumb portion by retracting the thumb back through the aperture. In some examples, this act can be facilitated by a spring-like mechanism that exerts a force on the thumb portion that returns the thumb portion to an un-reclined position when not secured. In some examples, the wearer will be able to then seal the aperture with a sealing mechanism.

The present disclosure also provides examples of a hand garment that enable or help a wearer emerge the thumb from the aperture without assistance from another hand. For example, the aperture can be configured to enable a wearer to emerge the thumb while holding a mobile device with the same hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a hand garment with a touch area in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a hand wearing a hand garment with a touch area and operating a mobile device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a hand garment having a touch area and a support mechanism in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a hand garment with a touch area and a pocket corner in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a hand wearing a hand garment with a touch area and a support mechanism and operating a mobile device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a hand wearing a hand garment with a touch area and a pocket corner and operating a mobile device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C show various states of operation of touch area on a thumb portion of a hand garment in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B provide views of a thumb portion using a slide fastening device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an example method for operating a mobile touchscreen device while wearing a hand garment in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure uses the phrase “hand garment” to refer apparel that insulates, protects, and/or covers a wearer's hand and/or fingers such as gloves and mittens, for example.

Operating touchscreen devices in cold weather can be particularly challenging, especially when the operator is wearing hand garments, such as gloves or mittens, to insulate the hands. That is because mobile devices can be difficult to hold and manipulate with hand garments. Further, it is typically not possible to operate touchscreen functionality through the insulating material of hand garments.

One way to facilitate interaction with a touchscreen device while wearing gloves is allow the wearer to temporarily expose the thumb or fingers and allow direct finger/thumb contact with the touchscreen device. For example, a glove may have an opening through which a wearer can temporarily emerge a thumb and/or finger to operate a touchscreen device. Using such an opening, however, can reduce the thermal or protective qualities of the glove. For example, an unsealed opening can allow heat to escape the glove, and moisture from snow, ice, can penetrate the glove, thereby limiting the ability of the glove to keep the wearer's hands warm and dry as desired. Moreover, gloves that provide for the thumb and fingers to be exposed may involve inconvenient manipulation of the gloves. For example, to remove and re-insert a thumb or finger from an opening in the glove, a wearer may need to pull back (or forward) a thumb or finger portion of the glove with the opposite hand. This two-handed approach can be burdensome and problematic, particularly if the wearer is holding a phone.

Another way to facilitate interaction with a mobile touchscreen device involves use of conductive material in the tips of the thumb and finger portions of the gloves. Using a conductive instead of an insulating material in the tips of the gloves can help the touchscreen device detect the presence of a wearer's finger on the touchscreen device. However, a conductive material layer is by nature less insulating than a typical insulating material, and thus will allow more heat to escape the glove. Accordingly, gloves employing conductive material layers may not be suitable for use in colder environments. Further, operating a touchscreen device through a conductive material adds an additional layer between the operator and the touchscreen device. This added layer limits the accuracy and precision to which the wearer can operate a touchscreen device. A user wearing such conductive material gloves may thus have difficulty executing touchscreen tasks that involve a high degree of touch precision and touch accuracy, such as typing, writing, drawing, or navigating through an electronic file.

Gloves can also make it difficult for a wearer to hold and secure a mobile device. Gloves limit the wearer's tactile sensations, and thereby limit the reliability of a wearer's grip on a device. This is particularly so in colder environments, when a wearer's tactile senses are further limited by the colder temperatures. Moreover, the outer surfaces of gloves do not typically provide a high degree of friction against the smooth, glass-like surfaces of many mobile touchscreen devices. As a result, such mobile devices are prone to slipping out of a wearer's hand during mobile device operation. This is even more likely if the wearer is attempting to manipulate or operate the phone while holding it with a single hand.

The present disclosure provides hand garments (e.g., gloves and mittens), that allow a wearer to operate and control a touchscreen device via direct contact with a finger or thumb. The hand garments allow a wearer to expose a portion of a thumb or finger, for example, via a sealable opening to operate the touchscreen device.

In some embodiments, the opening is sealable so that the wearer can reduce, limit, or eliminate the amount of heat that can be lost through the opening, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the article. In some aspects, this sealable opening is configured to enable a wearer to emerge the thumb and/or finger while holding the mobile device, without the use of the opposite hand.

As used throughout this application, the term “seal” (or “sealed,” “sealing,” or “sealable”) refer to an opening that is closed and secured. A “seal” as used throughout this application does not necessarily have to be air-tight, or hermetically sealed, though such an air-tight or hermetically sealed opening is certainly within the scope of the described technology. Likewise, a “seal” need not be applied about the entire opening, such that a “sealed” opening can still include unsealed portions or segments (e.g., as with seals formed by buttons, snaps, or the like). In some examples, a “sealed” opening provides a securement such that the opening should not open without a particular force being applied to or about the seal. In some embodiments, this particular force can be designed so that the seal will only open when desired by the wearer. In some examples, the “seal” can form automatically, for example, by way of a spring-like mechanism returning to its natural position. In other examples, the “seal” may involve an application force applied by a wearer or other user, for example, by way of pressing two sealing strips together.

The present disclosure also provides hand garments that help a wearer to hold and support a mobile device during operation. Some embodiments provide a support mechanism attached to the hand garment, such as pocket, a corner, a strap, a band, or a ledge, for example, that help secure or support a mobile device with respect to the hand garment. In this manner, a wearer of such a hand garment can hold and operate a mobile device with a single hand using a touch area while reducing the risk of fumbling, mishandling, or dropping the mobile device.

Exemplary embodiments of hand garments that facilitate operation of mobile touchscreen devices are provided in FIGS. 1-8, and described in more detail below.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a hand garment 100 with a touch area 130 facilitating operation of mobile touchscreen devices. The hand garment 100 includes a base portion 120 that is configured to cover the palm and fingers of a wearer's hand. In some embodiments, the hand garment 100 is a glove and includes multiple finger covers 122 for covering a wearer's fingers. In other embodiments, for example, the hand garment 100 can be a mitten and thus include a only single finger cover portion that covers all of a wearer's fingers (not including the thumb) together. The hand garment 100 can also include a thumb portion 140 configured to cover and insulate the thumb of a wearer. The thumb portion 140 can oppose the finger portion, or the finger covers 122 of the hand garment 100.

The touch area 130 can include an aperture 150 configured to allow the wearer's thumb to emerge, for example, so that the wearer can operate a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb. The aperture 150 can be, for example, a horizontal or vertical slot (e.g., a slit) in the hand garment 100. The aperture 150 can include a sealing mechanism 160 that is capable of sealing the aperture 150 when the thumb is within the thumb portion 140, That is, the sealing mechanism 160 can seal the aperture 150 so that the aperture 150 does not contribute to added heat loss, thereby allowing the hand garment 100 to maintain a relatively high level of thermal efficiency. In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism 160 can be configured to provide an insulation barrier for the hand garment 100 when the sealing mechanism 160 is in a sealed position. In certain examples, the hand garment thumb portion 140 can also include a conductive barrier at the touch area, so that when a wearer emerges a thumb 50 through the aperture 150, the conductive barrier still covers the emerged thumb 50. The conductive barrier can be formed of a material that enables a wearer to operate a touchscreen mobile device 10 through the barrier. In this manner, the wearer's thumb can still be thermally insulated, while maintaining the ability to accurately control and operate the mobile touchscreen device 10. Upon retraction of the thumb 50 back into the thumb portion 140, the conductive barrier can also retract into the thumb portion 140, thereby allowing the sealing mechanism 160 to seal the aperture 150. In some examples, the conductive barrier can be formed of a flexible and/or stretchable material, which can facilitate the retraction of the barrier back into the thumb portion 140.

In some examples, the aperture 150 and the sealing mechanism 160 are positioned on the thumb portion 140 so that they do not interfere with the tactile sensibilities of the thumb. For example, the aperture 150 and sealing mechanism 160 can be positioned to the side of the thumb, or below the tip of the thumb (e.g., below the first joint or knuckle of the thumb) so that the tip of the thumb otherwise presses against normal hand garment material, without a rigid or semi-rigid object in between. In this manner, the tactile capabilities of the thumb would not be significantly inhibited by the existence of the sealing mechanism 160. In other examples, the sealing mechanism 160 can be formed from a thin material such that the sealing mechanism can still be positioned in the center of the thumb portion 140 that covers the tip of the thumb, but otherwise does not significantly inhibit or impair the thumbs ability to feel or function beyond that of a typical hand garment.

Because the hand garment 100 allows a wearer to emerge a thumb and/or fingers and operate a touchscreen device with direct thumb/finger contact, the exterior surface of the thumb can comprise a non-conductive material that increases the protective properties of the hand garment 100. For example, the exterior surface can include materials that would otherwise limit the wearer's ability to operate a touchscreen device, such as a thermally insulating material, a waterproof material, a moisture wicking material, and/or a grip-enhancing material such as rubber or plastic. In this manner, the presently described hand garment 100 can provide durability, warmth, functionality, and protection (e.g., from water and moisture), that cannot otherwise be provided a touchscreen operable glove.

FIG. 2 shows a hand wearing a hand garment 100 and operating a mobile device 10. As shown, the wearer is holding the mobile device 10 and interacting with the device via a touchscreen surface 12 with an exposed thumb 50. The wearer's thumb 50 is emerged from an opening, or aperture 150 in the thumb portion 140 of the hand garment 100. An upper area 142 of the thumb portion 140 is bent backwards into a reclined position and attached to a lower area 144 of the thumb portion 140 as the thumb 50 is emerged. The upper area 142 can be secured to the lower area 144 in the reclined position via attachment mechanisms 170 and 175, which can be positioned, for example, on the back side of the upper area 142 and/or lower area 144 of the thumb portion 140. Attachment mechanisms 170 and 175 can be corresponding mating components that form a releasable connection. For example, attachment mechanisms 170 and 175 can form a snap connection, a magnetic connection, a hook and loop fastening connection (e.g., Velcro), a button connection, or the like. The attachment mechanisms 170 and 175 can be configured to hold the thumb portion 140 in a retracted position while the tip of the thumb 50 is emerged from the thumb portion 140.

In examples where the aperture 150 and sealing mechanism 160 are positioned on a side of the thumb portion 140, the attachment mechanisms 170 and 175 can be positioned on or around the thumb portion in a location on the opposite side of the aperture.

With the tip of the thumb 50 emerged from the hand garment 100 as shown in FIG. 2, the wearer can operate a touchscreen interface 12 of a mobile device 10 with direct thumb contact, thereby providing the ability to operate the device as accurately and precisely as if the wearer were not wearing the hand garment 100 at all. While the wearer operates the mobile touchscreen device 10 with the tip of the thumb 50, the remaining portions of the wearer's hand remain protected and insulated by the hand garment. For example, the wearer's fingers remain protected by the finger covers 122, the wearer's palm remains covered by the base portion 120, and a lower portion of the wearer's thumb 50 remains covered by the lower area 144 of the thumb portion 140 of the hand garment 100.

In some aspects, the hand garment 100 includes a support mechanism 200 as shown in FIG. 3. The support mechanism 200 can be used to provide support and security for a mobile device being operated by the wearer. In some embodiments, the support mechanism 200 facilitates a wearer's ability to operate and manipulate a mobile touchscreen device with a single hand, that is, without assistance from an opposite hand. FIG. 3 shows a hand garment 100 having a support mechanism 200 positioned along the base portion 120 of the hand garment 100.

In FIG. 3 the support mechanism 200 is shown to be a pocket, but the support mechanism 200 can also take on other configurations. For example, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a hand garment 100 that employs a pocket corner support mechanism 210. In this embodiment the pocket corner support mechanism 210 is configured to provide support to a mobile device along the bottom corner of the device. The pocket corner support mechanism 200 can therefore occupy less surface area on the hand garment 100.

In some embodiments, the support mechanism 200 can include two structures (e.g., two pocket corners 210) positioned along the base portion of the hand garment 100, where each structure is configured to help support a mobile device. For example, the support mechanism 200 can include two pocket corners configured to support a mobile device via the bottom right and bottom left corners of the device.

In some embodiments the support mechanism 200 can also be a band or a strap that can be wrapped around a mobile device (e.g., at the base). For example, the support mechanism 200 can be a band made of a stretchable material such as rubber or elastic that extends from one location (e.g., the tip of the pinky finger) on the hand garment 100 to another location (e.g., a lower portion of the palm area) and allows for a mobile device to be placed underneath. In this way the band can press the mobile device into the hand garment 100 to prevent the phone from moving or sliding downward while the wearer operates the mobile touchscreen device. In some embodiments, a band or strap support mechanism 200 can apply tension or pressure to the surface of the hand garment 100, thereby serving to press the mobile device into the hand garment, while also providing an upwards support, for example, in the form of stitching formed on a lower edge of the support mechanism 200.

The support mechanism 200 can vary in length, width, and/or depth depending on the intended use, and the mobile devices that the hand garment 100 is intended to be used with. For example, the support mechanism can be configured so that it is wide and/or deep enough to provide sufficient support of the mobile device, but narrow and/or shallow enough so that it does not significantly obstruct the wearer's ability to view the screen or otherwise operate the mobile device. In some examples, the support mechanism can be formed from a thin and/or conductive material that allows the mobile touchscreen device to maintain touch sensitivity through the support mechanism. In this manner, the support mechanism can be wide and/or deep enough that it covers a portion of the touchscreen of the mobile device 10, while still allowing an operator to operate the touchscreen portion of the mobile device 10 through the support mechanism 200. For example, the support mechanism can be formed of a thin polymer or plastic that enables the touchscreen of the mobile touchscreen device 10 to detect an operator's touch through the polymer or plastic. Additionally and/or alternatively, the support mechanism 200 can comprise metallic or other conductive threaded material so that the support mechanism 200 does not inhibit the mobile touchscreen device 10 from detecting the operator's touch through the material. By allowing the support mechanism to be deep enough to cover a portion of the touchscreen while still maintaining operability of the covered portion of the touchscreen, the support mechanism 200 can provided added support and security to the mobile touchscreen device 10, which can be particularly useful in situations where the wearer may be prone to dropping the device 10.

The support mechanism 200 is used in connection with a touch area 130 on the hand garment 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the touch area 130 includes an aperture 150 with a sealing mechanism 160 along the thumb portion. In this manner, the wearer can emerge a thumb and operate a mobile device as described with respect to FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the touch area 130 may not include an aperture. For example, the touch area 130 can include a portion of conductive material that allows a wearer to operate capacitive touch functionality through the material. In some embodiments, the touch area 130 can include magnets or other objects that allow the wearer's thumb and/or fingers to operate touchscreen devices without emerging from the hand garment 100. In some examples, the touch area 130 can be holes, cutouts, or tip-less portions of the hand garment, such that the operators' thumb and/or fingers are exposed or uncovered.

The support mechanism 200 can be configured to correspond to specific mobile touchscreen devices. For example, in some embodiments, the support mechanism 200 can be a pocket of a width sufficient to securely hold an iPhone, or a competitive mobile device. In certain aspects, the size of the support mechanism 200 can be adjustable so that the hand garment 100 can operate in connection with a variety of mobile touchscreen devices.

The position of the support mechanism 200 along the base portion 120 of the hand garment 100 can vary depending on the size and shape of the hand garment 100, the size and shape of the mobile touchscreen device intended to be operated, and/or a wearer's preference and comfort. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the support mechanism 200 can extend along the pinky finger portion of the hand garment. In some examples, the support mechanism can extend onto or along the base portion 120 (i.e., the palm) of the hand garment 100. In further examples, the support mechanism can extend along the ring finger or middle finger portion of the hand garment, and in still further examples, the support mechanism can extend across two or more fingers, thereby providing different angles of support for a mobile device 10. In some embodiments, the support mechanism 200 can be removably attachable from the hand garment 100 so that a wearer can position the support mechanism 200 at a desired location along the base portion 120 of the hand garment 100. That is, the support mechanism 200 can be configured so that it can be detached and reattached at various positions along the hand garment 100. For example, the support mechanism 200 can include a connection mechanism such as a Velcro or magnetic strip along a back portion. The base portion 120 of the hand garment 100 can include a corresponding connection mechanism along all or a portion of the outer surface of the hand garment 100. In this way, a wearer can remove and attach the support mechanism 200 at varying positions along the hand garment to achieve a supporting position that is most comfortable for the wearer's use.

FIG. 5 shows a hand wearing a hand garment 100 with a support mechanism 200 and operating a mobile device 10. As shown, the mobile device 10 is positioned within the pocket of the support mechanism 200, which provides a vertical support that inhibits the mobile device 10 from slipping downward while being operated by the wearer. The support mechanism 200 therefore reduces the strength of the grip that a wearer must exert to hold the phone and provides a greater range of motion for the thumb, so that the touchscreen interface 12 of the mobile device 10 can be operated more effectively and comfortably.

In some embodiments, the hand garment 100 can include more than one touch areas. For example, in addition to the thumb portion 140, the finger covers 122 can also include touch areas that allow a wearer to operate a mobile device with the fingers. As shown in FIG. 5, the hand garment 100 includes a touch area 131 on the index finger and a touch area 132 on the middle finger of the hand garment 100. In some embodiments, the hand garment 100 can include a touch area on each finger.

In FIG. 5, the touch areas 131 and 132 are shown as apertures 151 and 152, each aperture comprising a sealing mechanism 161 and 162 for sealing the apertures 151 and 152 when the corresponding fingers are located within the finger covers 122. In operation the touch areas 131 and 132 of the finger covers can be used in the same way as the touch area on the thumb. That is, a tip of the index and/or middle finger can emerge from the apertures 151 and 152, and a portion of the finger covers 122 can be held back by attaching mechanisms 170 and 175. The exposed tips of the fingers can then be free to directly contact a touchscreen interface 12 of a mobile device 10.

In FIG. 5, the upper area 142 thumb portion 140 is shown held back in a reclined position. In some aspects, the thumb portion 140 can include a spring-like mechanism that applies a force on the upper area 142 of the thumb portion 140 when flexed back in the reclining position. In this manner, the thumb portion 140 can have a natural tendency to rebound to the original un-reclined position when not secured to the lower area 144 of the thumb portion 140. This feature can help an operator to re-insert the thumb back into the thumb portion, and may help a wearer re-insert the thumb without the assistance from another hand. This can be particularly useful, for example, where a wearer's other hand is occupied (e.g., holding ski poles or another object), inconveniently positioned away from the other hand (e.g., while an operator is working underneath an automobile), too cold, or otherwise not dexterous enough to provide assistance (e.g., on account of the bulkiness of the glove).

In certain embodiments, the spring-like mechanism can be the sealing mechanism 160 itself. For example, the sealing mechanism 160 can have a spring-like flexibility that exerts a tendency to remain straight. In this manner, when the thumb portion 140 is in the reclined position, the sealing mechanism 160 can exert a tendency to straighten out, thereby exerting a slight force on the thumb portion to return to the original un-reclined position. In other embodiments, the spring-like mechanism can include an additional mechanism (e.g., a flexible rod or pole), placed in the thumb portion (e.g., on a front or rear side of the thumb portion, or on one or both sides of the sealing mechanism 160).

In some embodiments, the touch areas 131 and 132 do not comprise apertures, but instead include other structure to facilitate interaction with a touchscreen device through the hand garment 100, such as a portion of conductive material portion, for example.

FIGS. 1-5 depict embodiments of a hand garment 100 that is a glove. That is, the glove has a base portion with a plurality of finger covers 122, each finger cover 122 configured to cover at least a portion of one finger of the hand. However, the hand garment 100 can also be a mitten as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the base portion 120 of the hand garment 100 includes a finger cover 124 that extends collectively over all of the wearer's fingers. In this manner, the hand garment 100 can operate as a mitten with functionality similar to that of the glove embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-5. The mitten hand garment 100 is shown with a pocket corner support mechanism 210 supporting the lower left corner of the mobile device 10. The mitten hand garment 100 also includes a touch area 131 along the finger portion 124, allowing for one or more of the wearer's fingers to operate the mobile touchscreen device 10. For example, the finger touch area 131 can include one or more finger apertures 151 that have a sealing mechanism 161 that allows one or more of the wearer's fingers to emerge from the hand garment and directly contact the touchscreen interface 12 of the mobile device 10.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C show various states of operation of one embodiment of a touch area 130 on a thumb portion 140 of a hand garment. In FIG. 7A, the touch area 130 is shown with an aperture 150 sealed in a closed configuration. The aperture 150 is sealed closed by a sealing mechanism 160 along the boundary of the aperture 150. The sealing mechanism 160 includes two interlocking strips 164 and 165 attached along the boundaries of the aperture 150 on the thumb portion 140 of the hand garment 100. The interlocking strips 164 and 165 are configured to be separably engaged when pressed together. Male strip 164 can include a male portion that is configured to insert into a female portion of female strop 164. In some aspects, the two strips 164 and 165 can be pressed together and form a seal in a manner similar to that of a reclosable plastic sandwich bag.

The interlocking strips 164 and 165 of the sealing mechanism 160 can be made of a flexible material, such as rubber or plastic, for example, so that the strips are capable of flexing or deforming to form a sealing engagement. When pressed together, the interlocking strips 164 and 165 form a seal that can thermally insulate the thumb portion so that heat loss through the aperture is minimized, reduced, limited and/or eliminated, for example. Force or pressure applied to the interlocking strips 164 and 165, when engaged, can cause the flexible material to flex or deform such that the interlocking strips 164 and 165 separate, or “pop” open, thereby allowing a thumb 50 to emerge from the aperture 150.

FIG. 7B shows the touch area 130 in a partially opened state. In FIG. 7B, the male strip 164 and the female strip 165 have been disengaged or separated, allowing the aperture 150 to become an opening through which the thumb can emerge. The sealing mechanism 160 can be configured to unseal, or to “pop” open when a certain pressure is applied to the sealing mechanism 160 from inside the hand garment 100, for example, by the thumb of a wearer. In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism 160 can become disengaged or unsealed by applying pressure to the sealing mechanism 160 with the thumb 50 from inside of the hand garment 100. For example, in some aspects a wearer may be able to disengage the sealing mechanism 160 by inserting the thumb 50 between the index finger and the middle finger, and pressing the thumb through the aperture. The force of the thumb along or on the aperture 150, coupled with an opposing downward force provided by the index and middle fingers along the thumb portion 140 can cause the interlocking strips 164 and 165 of the sealing mechanism 160 to separate or “pop” open, turning the aperture 150 into an opening. In this way, the aperture 150 can be configured to enable a wearer to emerge the tip of the thumb from thumb portion using only the index and middle fingers. That is, a wearer can emerge a thumb through the aperture 150 without assistance from another hand. And in some embodiments, the wearer can emerge the thumb through the aperture 150 while holding a mobile touchscreen device with the same hand. Because the hand garment 100 can include a support mechanism 200 that can hold and support the mobile device 10, the wearer may be free to temporarily use the thumb 50, the middle finger, and the index finger to emerge the thumb 50 from the hand garment 100 without allowing the mobile device 10 to drop.

FIG. 7C shows the tip of the thumb 50 emerged from the thumb portion 140 through the aperture 150. As shown, the sealing mechanism 160 surrounds the emerged tip of the thumb 50, and an upper area of the thumb portion 142 can be folded back and secured to a lower area 144 of the thumb portion, for example, using an attachment mechanism. In this manner the exposed tip of the thumb 50 can be free to directly contact a touchscreen interface of a mobile device, and operate the mobile device with a high degree of accuracy and precision.

FIGS. 8A and 8B provide views of another configuration of a touch area 130 with a sealing mechanism 160 that comprises a slide fastening device 167 and a slider 168. More specifically, FIG. 8A shows the front of a thumb portion 140 of a hand garment 100 employing a slide fastening device 167, and FIG. 8B depicts partially transparent side view of the thumb portion 140 to depict the thumb 50 inside of the hand garment 100.

The slide fastening device 167 can be, for example, a rubber zipper or similar apparatus that can be operated with a thumb 50 from inside the thumb portion 140 of the hand garment. The slide fastening device 167 can include interlocking strips that engage in a manner similar to that described with respect to the sealing mechanism of FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. A slider 168 can slide up and down along the slide fastening device 167 to engage and/or disengage the strips of the slide fastening device 167, thereby creating an opening through which a tip of the thumb 140 can emerge.

In some embodiments, slider 168 slide fastening device is configured to be operated by a thumb from inside the thumb portion of the hand garment as depicted in FIG. 8B. In some aspects the slider 168 can be controlled from outside of the hand garment 100, for example, with another finger, or an opposing hand. In this manner the wearer can slide the slider 168 up (or down) to create an opening, and emerge the thumb 50 from the hand garment 100. The wearer can then be free to operate a mobile touchscreen device by directly contacting the touchscreen interface with the thumb. In some embodiments, this can be accomplished with one hand without assistance from an opposing hand. When the wearer is no longer operating the mobile touchscreen device, the wearer can reinsert the thumb 50 back into the thumb portion 140 of the hand garment 100 and re-seal the opening with the slide fastening mechanism 167 by sliding the slider 168 up or down.

FIGS. 7A-7C and 8A-8B show embodiments of a touch area 130 on the thumb portion 140 of a hand garment 100. It should be appreciated, however, that the depicted touch areas 130 can also be used along finger covers of a hand garment, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this way, one or more finger covers can have an aperture of a size sufficient to allow a tip of a finger to emerge from the finger cover.

The touch area 130 can include sealing mechanisms that operate differently from those described with respect to the figures. For example, in some embodiments, the touch area can include an aperture with a sealing mechanism that includes a button and a slot. In some aspects, the sealing mechanism can include a snap fastening system, a hook and loop fastening system, or a magnetic fastening system.

In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism includes a self-closing flexible seal that provides an opening when compressed in a longitudinal direction. For example, the sealing mechanism can include a pair of flexible strips that engage in a straight configuration when the strips are not compressed. Upon application of a compression force in a longitudinal direction, the flexible strips can bow outwards from one another, establishing an opening therebetween through which a thumb or finger can emerge. When the thumb or finger has been re-inserted into the hand garment and the compression force is removed, the flexible strips can revert back to their initial position, engaged with one another, thereby sealing the aperture. In this way the sealing mechanism can operate in a similar fashion to a coin purse with a flex frame closure.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide sealing engagements that can be operated with a single hand. In some embodiments, the sealing engagements can be used by a hand while also holding a mobile device. For example, the sealing engagement can be configured so that a wearer can un-seal an aperture and emerge a thumb or finger through the aperture without assistance from another hand, while also holding a mobile device. In some aspects, this task can be facilitated with a support mechanism as described herein, which can support and secure the mobile and reduce the likelihood that the mobile device will be fumbled, mishandled, or dropped. In some aspects, the sealing mechanism can also be configured to allow a wearer to reinsert the thumb or finger into the hand garment, and reseal the aperture with a single hand while holding a mobile device. In some embodiments, however, the touch area can include an aperture or opening without a sealing mechanism.

In some embodiments, the touch area can include a sheath or protector coupled to or within an aperture that allows the thumb or finger to emerge from the hand garment and still be protected while operating a touchscreen device. For example, the sheath or protector can comprise a conductive material so that the thumb or finger is capable of operating a mobile touchscreen device through the sheath. In this manner, the hand garment can provide added warmth and protection even while the wearer's thumb is emerged from the thumb portion to operate a touchscreen device.

The touch areas shown in FIGS. 1-8B, and described herein have included an aperture that is vertical with respect to the thumb and fingers. Certain hand garments, however, can employ apertures oriented horizontally, diagonally, or in some other configuration. For example, in some embodiments, it may easier for a wearer to emerge a thumb or finger through the aperture when the aperture is oriented horizontally rather than vertically.

The present disclosure also provides embodiments of methods for operating a mobile touchscreen device while wearing a hand garment or hand protector. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an example method 900. At step 910, the method includes the step of supporting a mobile touchscreen device. Step 910 can include, for example, supporting a mobile device with a support mechanism on a hand garment. In some embodiments, step 910 can use a pocket, a pocket corner, a strap or a band, for example, to support the mobile touchscreen device. In this manner the support mechanism can apply an upward or sustaining force that prevents, limits, or inhibits the mobile touchscreen device from moving, falling, or otherwise being mishandled during operation. This can enable the wearer to reduce the grip force on the mobile device, and thereby allow for greater hand and finger dexterity, facilitating easier operation of the mobile touchscreen device.

At step 920 the wearer emerges the thumb and/or finger through an aperture in the hand garment. In some embodiments, the emerging step 920 involves penetrating a sealing mechanism that sealed and/or closed the aperture with a thumb or finger. In some aspects, step 920 may involve emerging the thumb or finger without assistance from another hand. For example, step 920 can involve using only the thumb, index finger and middle finger of one hand to emerge a thumb from an aperture in the hand garment. In certain aspects, 920 involves emerging the thumb or finger while the wearer is holding a mobile touchscreen device.

At step 930 the thumb or finger portion is folded back and secured to the hand garment. For example, after emerging the thumb or finger from the hand garment, the wearer can bend or fold an upper area of the thumb portion of the hand garment back onto a lower area, and attach or secure the upper area so that it does not interfere or obstruct the thumb or finger from operating a mobile touchscreen device. The attaching or securement can occur, for example, by using an attaching device such as a snap, a magnet, or a hook and loop fastener.

At step 940 the wearer operates a mobile touchscreen device with a thumb or finger emerged from the hand garment. For example, the wearer may operate a mobile touchscreen device by directly contacting a touchscreen interface with the skin of the wearer's emerged thumb and/or finger.

At step 950 the wearer re-covers or re-inserts the emerged thumb or finger. For example, at step 950 the wearer can re-insert the thumb or finger into the thumb/finger portion of the hand garment through a hand garment. In some embodiments the hand garment can be configured such step 950 can be accomplished without assistance from another hand. Further, in some aspects, step 950 can be accomplished while the wearer is holding a mobile touchscreen device.

At step 960 the wearer seals the aperture via a sealing mechanism installed about the aperture. For example, at step 960 the wearer can press two strips of a sealing mechanism together to establish a seal, thereby limiting the amount of heat that can be lost through the aperture. For further example, step 960 can involve closing a slide fastening device by sliding a slider up or down along a the track of the slide fastening device using a thumb within the thumb portion of the hand garment. Step 960 can involve sealing any of the sealing mechanisms described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-8B.

The present disclosure provides hand garments that can provide thick, highly insulating materials. Such hand garments can be particularly useful, for example, in particularly cold environments where the use of thinner and/or conductive materials do not provide adequate warmth or protection.

The presently disclosed hand garments can also include exterior materials or surfaces that offer a variety of textures, or that can assist the wearer in handling objects or performing certain tasks. For example, the presently disclosed hand garments can be work gloves with a rubber or plastic gripping surface disposed on the exterior of the glove.

The presently disclosed hand garments can be useful, for example, as ski gloves or mittens. For example, the presently disclosed hand garments can provide thicker insulating materials, and a waterproof and/or a grip facilitating exterior surface that can be useful on ski gloves. In this manner the wearer can maintain warm, dry hands while being able to comfortably grip and hold ski poles or other objects, and still be able to operate a mobile touchscreen device without having to remove the glove. The presently disclosed hand garments also facilitate access to mobile touchscreen devices in situations that would otherwise be difficult, cumbersome, or risky for a skier to manipulate a mobile touchscreen device, for example, while riding on a chairlift.

As previously noted, the present disclosure uses the phrase “hand garment” to refer to a broad category of apparel that insulates, protects, and/or covers a wearer's hand and/or fingers such as gloves and mittens. For example, as used throughout this application, the term “hand garment” can include gloves, mittens, muffs, wraps, pogies, covers, mitts, and the like. Some exemplary descriptions of embodiments of the present technology may make reference to specific hand garments, such as gloves or mittens. Such specific references are not intended to limit the scope of the present technology specifically to gloves or mittens unless the context dictates otherwise. Accordingly, it should be understood that any references to a specific type of hand garment, such as a glove, can reasonably substitute a reference to another specific type of hand garment, such as a mitten, without departing from the spirit of the present technology.

The present disclosure describes embodiments and examples of a hand garment and related methods for using hand garments to operate mobile touchscreen devices. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments shown in the drawings, if any, and as described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Moreover, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. All references cited in the present disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

1. A hand garment facilitating interaction with a mobile touchscreen device, the hand garment comprising: a base portion shaped to cover fingers and a palm of a hand; and a thumb portion shaped to cover a thumb of the hand, the thumb portion comprising a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb, the touch area comprising an aperture of a size sufficient for a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion, wherein the aperture comprises a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture.
 2. The hand garment of claim 1, wherein the aperture is at least one of a horizontal or vertical slot.
 3. The hand garment of claim 2, wherein the aperture is a vertical slot that spreads open and facilitates the thumb emerging from the thumb portion, wherein the vertical slot spreads open in response to at least one of internal pressure being applied to the slot from inside the thumb portion, and a rearward force applied on an upper area of the thumb portion.
 4. The hand garment of claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises two strips that press together to form a seal, wherein the seal establishes a hand garment with improved insulating properties over a hand garment without a formed seal.
 5. The hand garment of claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a slide fastening device operable by a thumb from inside the thumb portion of the hand garment.
 6. The hand garment of claim 1, wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a self-closing flexible seal that provides an opening when compressed in a longitudinal direction.
 7. The hand garment of claim 1, wherein the hand garment further comprises an attachment mechanism on a back side of the thumb portion, the attachment mechanism configured to hold the thumb portion in a reclined position.
 8. The hand garment of claim 7, wherein the thumb portion further comprises a spring-like mechanism that facilitates returning a reclined thumb portion to an un-reclined position.
 9. The hand garment of claim 7, wherein the spring-like mechanism is the sealing mechanism or a component of the sealing mechanism.
 10. The hand garment of claim 1, further comprising a support mechanism extending along the base portion of the hand garment, the support mechanism configured to support the mobile touchscreen device.
 11. The hand garment of claim 10, wherein the support mechanism comprises a stretchable material.
 12. The hand garment of claim 10, wherein the support mechanism is removably attachable from the hand garment so that the support mechanism can be positioned at one or more different desired positions along the base portion of the hand garment.
 13. A hand garment facilitating interaction with a mobile touchscreen device, the hand garment comprising: a base portion shaped to cover fingers and a palm of a hand; and a thumb portion shaped to cover a thumb of the hand, the thumb portion comprising a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb; and a support mechanism positioned along the base portion, the support mechanism configured to provide support for a mobile touchscreen device.
 14. The hand garment of claim 13, wherein the touch area comprises an aperture of a size sufficient for a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion and a sealing mechanism that seals the aperture.
 15. The hand garment of claim 13, wherein the touch area comprises a conductive material configured to enable the thumb to operate a touchscreen device through the touch area.
 16. The hand garment of claim 13, wherein the support mechanism is removably attachable from the hand garment so that a wearer can position the pocket at a desired location along the base portion.
 17. The hand garment of claim 13, wherein the support mechanism comprises at least one of a pocket and a pocket corner.
 18. The hand garment of claim 13, wherein the support mechanism comprises a strap or band formed from a stretchable material.
 19. The hand garment of claim 13, wherein the hand garment is a glove, wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of finger covers, each finger cover shaped to cover at least a portion of one finger of the hand, wherein at least one finger cover comprises a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with a finger of the hand.
 20. A glove thermally that insulates a hand and facilitates interaction of a mobile touchscreen device, the glove comprising: a base portion shaped to cover and insulate fingers and a palm of the hand; a thumb portion extending from the base portion, the thumb portion shaped to cover and insulate a thumb of the hand, the thumb portion comprising a touch area that facilitates operation of a mobile touchscreen device with the thumb, the touch area comprising an aperture of a size sufficient for a tip of the thumb to emerge from the thumb portion, the aperture having a sealing mechanism comprising two strips that press together to seal the aperture; and a support mechanism extending along the base portion, the support mechanism positioned to support a mobile touchscreen device as a wearer operates the mobile touchscreen device with the thumb; wherein the seal formed by the sealing mechanism improves the insulating properties of the glove. 